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| Grandview Lodge Resort |
I married into a family who's legacy is firmly grounded at Grandview Lodge. For over 100 years, the family owned and ran this resort. Many of them met while working up there in the summers. My own in-laws met there, as did my brother and sister-in-law. Summer romances always seem to be in full bloom with both staff and young guests. For many decades, families went to Grandview for one or more weeks of summer relaxation. Those same families went that same week year after year. Returning guests became extended family. All the staff knew one another and the guests knew one another. That was the era of togetherness. It was a time of innocence.
Some say that the assassination of John F. Kennedy marked the end of modern day Camelot. Those innocent days and months before this tragic event was the time in history set for "Dirty Dancing". This famous 1980's film was based on a family spending their summer at a Catskills resort, very similar to Grandview. Aside from all the great music and dancing, this movie made very specific references to the hard division of classes and the importace of family values in 1960's America. But the two main characters broke through their social and economic barriers and fell in love. We saw the gritty side of the impoverished staff and the seemingly perfect lives of the wealthy guests. But the thin veil of denial became torn when it was apparent that Camelot was an illusion after all.
Towards the end of the film, the resort owner laments about this fall from grace:
"Lots of changes, though, Max.
It's not the changes so much this time.
It's that it all seems to be ending.
You think kids want to come with their parents and take fox-trot lessons? Trips to Europe, that's what the kids want. Twenty-two countries in three days.
It feels like it's all slipping away."
What happened to the Jello, once again? Me thinkst that it's dead and we may be the poorer for it.
Relive the 1960's...
